CELL TOWER NEAR THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CORRIDOR AT WOLF LAUREL
BACKGROUND:
American Tower is planning to install a cell tower in the Wolf Laurel development on the
border of Madison and Yancey Counties near the corridor of the Appalachian Trail.
Morgan Sommerville, Regional Director of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, requests
Carolina Mountain Club?s support and has communicated the following proposals to the
zoning boards of both counties:
“Because the proposed 169? cell tower will likely cause an unmitigated significant
adverse effect to the visual resource of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in the
vicinity of the proposed tower, as well as to local residents, we propose that the cell
tower be reduced in height only slightly taller than surrounding tree cover (or disguised
in some other way) to avoid an unnatural projection above the tree line along the ridge
crest. If the tower must be lighted at that height, we request low intensity red strobe
lights be used to mark the tower, though our strong preference is no lighting.”
CMC POSITION:
Carolina Mountain Club supports the Appalachian Trail Conservancy?s proposals with
our communications so that the Appalachian National Scenic Trail view shed along with
the hiking and camping experience can be protected from the adverse effects of the
proposed cell tower.